Safety in Focus: Are You Protecting Your Employees?

Money makes the world go round. Well, that’s the old adage at least. Although this may be true to an extent, money should not be considered to be the be all and end all in business. Above all else, the safety of your employees is the most important element of your business practice and it should be something that is considered with the utmost care and attention. If you fail to do so, it can damage your business immeasurably, and you could been be closed down. Here’s how to avoid this happening:Mistakes Happen: Account for ThemNo matter how much you plan and prepare, mistakes will still happen; and this is an unfortunate fact of life. One thing that you can do, however, is anticipate these accidents and have a contingency plan in place. What’s more, if and when one does occur, never be afraid to report it. This is a legal obligation and, as a responsible employer, it should be the first thing you do when you know the facts. As long as you’re keeping up to date with the current legislation, then you have nothing to hide. Accidents will always happen, but it’s how you deal with them that counts.Make Health and Safety the Company FocusIf you’re the sort of business owner who likes to have a focus month, then make health and safety the focus in May. The more your staff are aware about your health and safety precautions you have in place, the more they will feel at ease at work. Although it is incredibly likely that you go through this with your staff during their induction, it is more than likely that they have forgotten much of this information- especially if they’re a long serving staff member. A refresher never goes amiss.Make Sure You’re Using All The Appropriate MaterialsBusinesses change and evolve over time and, as they evolve, they lose their ability to function as securely as they once did. Although equipment and machinery is often updated, the peripheral aspects of the business are often forgotten and although the business is functional, it isn’t as safe. Flooring is often overlooked especially and yet slips, trips and falls create huge health and safety problems. Anywhere with hazardous materials or heavy lifting should have a composite flooring like Dura grating as this would limit the potential dangers and reduce slippage. If your business has changed over the past few years, now is the perfect time to review your strategy.So, make safety your focus this year and make protecting your staff your number one priority.